As anyone who reads this blog regularly knows, I volunteer at Old Friends at Cabin Creek, a Thoroughbred retirement farm in Greenfield, NY. Old Friends is a satellite of Old Friends in Georgetown, KY. One of the capacities I act in as a volunteer is tour guide. I’ve given many tours of this beautiful farm, and I get asked lots of questions during tours. In this post, I will answer some of the most frequently asked questions on tours. You can click on most of these photos to purchase a print of them, and I will donate my profit to the farm.
Does anyone ride these horses anymore?
No, they are completely retired! The Old Friends farms are sanctuaries where retired Thoroughbreds come to enjoy their golden years.
How old are the horses?
Thoroughbreds today retire by age 10 and live on average 25-30 years. The Thoroughbreds at Cabin Creek range in age from 11 to 23.
Did the horses win any big races?
Old Friends’ mission is to provide dignified retirement to all Thoroughbreds, regardless of earnings. We had a horse who passed away last year (the legendary Zippy Chippy) who had a record of 0 wins from 100 starts, and we have multiple graded stakes winners as well (such as Commentator or the late Will’s Way).
What do the horses eat?
They have a steady diet of hay and grain with some supplements, but they also enjoy carrots, mints, and sometimes even apples and bananas as treats! Some of the boys have dietary restrictions, so they can’t all have the same treats.
Are there any female horses at Cabin Creek?
No. Because Old Friends at Cabin Creek is one of the few farms in the area that takes stallions, we do not take any mares.
What do volunteers do at the farm?
There’s lots to do to keep the farm running smoothly. Some volunteers muck, some feed, some help groom, some give tours, and many do a combination of those things. In all there are about 40 volunteers.
Did any of these horses have second careers?
A lot of our boys did not have second careers, due to injury and other circumstances. Naughty New Yorker, however, stood at stud in Ontario before coming to Cabin Creek, and Doc N Roll was retrained as a jumping horse.
How do you hand feed a horse?
Just hold your hand out completely flat. That’s all there is to it!
Do the horses come in at night?
No, they stay out 24/7 unless they have just arrived at the farm, they are on stall rest due to injury, or their paddock is being maintained. Each paddock has a run-in shed to shelter the boys from precipitation.
How is the farm funded?
The farm is funded by the generous donations of visitors and friends of the farm. We have several events during the year to help fundraise, including the annual birthday party in April and the After the Race cocktail party and silent auction in August.
Interested in meeting the boys for yourself? Stop by for a tour! We are open on Saturdays from 12-3 (typically closed in January and February) and in the summer we have extended hours and are open several day a week from 9-1.
To see more of my equine photography be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. All photos in this post © Samantha Decker and may not be reused without permission.
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One thought on “Old Friends at Cabin Creek Frequently Asked Questions”
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Great post – !!